There were dozens and dozens of people there whom I knew, and it was one of those milling-about-and-talking occasions where you intersperse inconsequential greetings with sudden lengthy discuissions on rather important subjects...

It is hugely important that the Ordinariate flourishes.It needs funds. Scope here for serious generosity on the part of those who want to see the Church flourish in Britain and reach and heal our poor old country...

...to the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday? (Oct 1st) Starts 1.15pm Westminster Cathedral. This week I was working on the hymn-sheet...we are starting of course with veneration of the Blessed Sacrament, so O Salutaris Hostia...and during the Procession we will have some of the best hymns, including "Sweet Sacrament Divine" and of course Newman "Praise to the Holiest in the height...."

...at Westminster Cathedral, an invitation to view some of the art of Greg Tricker, on display in the chapel of St Andrew and in the aisles. There were some things well worth viewing: among much else, some good stained glass, a wonderful image of Christ as a boy painted on wood, and a stunning carved depiction of Joseph of Arimithea bringing the Chalice from the Last Supper to Britain by boat. This last, carved out of a great piece of oak, is a fine piece of work...the Glastonbury legend has long fascinated so many of us, and here it is renewed afresh in Westminster Cathedral...

Sister Wendy, whose own books on art have made her deservedly well known, spoke about Greg Tricker's work, and then we all went for a celebration in the bookshop next to the Cathedral, where Tricker's book was launched with wine and speeches, and there was a convivial party atmosphere and much talk...

Monday, September 26, 2011

..for the annual meeting of the Assn of Catholic Women on Saturday. We had an excellent talk by Dr Philip Howard on medical ethics and the inspiration of Blessed John Paul, followed by a DVD about BlJP from Rome Reports. I most warmly recommend the latter - it's simply called "John Paul the Great" - and indeed other DVDs from Rome Reports...well-produced, authoritative, and hugely watchable.

The ACW has had a good year. Our Schools Project grows and flourishes, with children sending in essays from Catholic primary schools across Britain, and generous parcels of book prizes going out thanks to the wonderful support of the Catholic Truth Society.We had a happy pilgrimage to Minster recently. Our work in helping teachers using Art and Music (notably Gregorian Chant)in teaching the Faith goes on steadily. Our annual gathering at the Westminster Cathedral Chrism Mass to show public support for priests was again a cheering event. And at this AGM we gained some new members and looked at plans for 2012 and beyond...

...just off London's Trafalgar Square, for a celebration with Catholic Voices, and the launch of two new books. One is by CV's founder Jack Valero, and is a good read, telling the story of this adventure of this Catholic initiative,how it grew, how it linked to the Papal Visit, The other is a sort of handbook for Catholics on some of the major topical issues that the Catholic Voices team has been tackling: I'm finding it useful and stimulating. This was a youthful, lively, happy evening with an impressive range of young people. Some of us went on to a pub and there was lively talk until a late hour...

Friday, September 23, 2011

...has been welcomed in Germany where, contrary to the predictions, there was a warm welcome, vast crowds at an open-air Mass, a friendly meeting with the Jewish community. He gave an excellent address to the German Parliament - worth reading: here.

This is a Pope of rich wisdom, especially on the relationship between faith and reason, and the respective roles and duties of Church and State. The Lefebvrists, now busy pondering on whether or not to rejoin the Church, are stuck in a muddle on the latter issue and those that do decide to return will find a good way forward here.

But why won't the BBC and much of the British media just give themselves a break and start reporting things fairly? The Pope, answering questions on the plane en route to Berlin was at ease with the idea of people turning out in protest demonstrations against him, noting with goodwill that they were free to do so. In the event, numbers protesting were far smaller than expected, and the real news is that - as in Britain - that people are finding this gentle and fatherly man of God some one who brings a message worth hearing.

...Tyburn, for the launch of a really superb new DVD. It tells the story of these remarkable Benedictine sisters, who now have convents in mountain sites in South America, the New Zealand bush, and the heart of Rome, among other places. Lush scenery, glorious photography, scenes of convent life that are touching, funny, frank and beautiful.Lots more about it here.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

...and a link with Germany. All this and more at Minster Abbey, where a group of pilgrims from the Association of Catholic Women and the Continuity History Walks had a most beautiful day. The Abbey dates back to pre-Norman Conquest days,was closed under Henry VIII, and in its more recent history has links to Eichstatt in Germany, from where a group of six sisters arrived in the 1930s. There are now more than twice that number in the community, and we met the latest novice, and an Oblate, along with Sister Benedict who looked after us during our pilgrimage.Exploration of the Abbey, its garden and paths. The office of Sext and then Mass in the convent chapel with its great windows giving the glorious sweep of the trees and the sky above the sanctuary. The timeless reality of the Eucharist, the unchanging link binding us to long-ago Saxon sisters, and our voices raised in Newman's "Praise to the Holiest..." A potter around the village. Picnic lunches eaten on the Abbey's wide lawns. A presentation of the Abbey's history - which gave me the idea of perhaps doing a feature on St Mildred for EWTN, so watch for more on that. The peace of it all, a happy day. Final farewells over tea...

There was a train back to London which agreed to depart from Minster station, to our mild astonishment (see below). We were all a bit sad to leave, and we'll be back.

...have their own ways of doing things. Just because one buys a ticket to Minster-in-Thanet, and gets on a train that is going there, and has regular announcements stating the fact, it doesn't mean that the train will actually take one there. Our small group of pilgrims to Minster met, as arranged, at Westminster Cathedral and hurried to Charing Cross to catch the train - all went well and we chatted merrily as we whizzed through the London suburbs and out into the Kent countryside...and then a voice announced that the train "will not be calling at Wye or at Minster". When an official materilised in due course,we asked why. "Well, there was a delay. We might be late." So apparently the only thing to do was to hurry past some of the stations where passengers might, irritatingly, wish to alight. He seemed to be a bit puzzled by our concern. We found this amusing for a while, and speculated about where we might end up - perhaps in France since this is the Channel Tunnel line? - but since we were unable to leave the train, and my plan about pulling the communication cord was deemed too expensive (£70 fine, or is it £100?)we were hurtled on to Ramsgate. We whizzed through Minster - I urged everyone to wave as the train rushed through, just in case any of our fellow-pilgrims were there. And indeed we learned later that Sister Benedict from the Abbey had gone down to the station to meet us,having carefully checked the train times...and was waiting faithfully when the train rushed through without stopping. She telephoned the railway company - and was connected to some one in India who was very polite and told her that the train had been "cancelled".

At Ramsgate we were told that we could catch a train back to Minster - only an hour to wait.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Monday, September 19, 2011

...to the West Country, and a stay in a b-and-b while I visit some relations. This morning, I dropped in to Mass at the beautiful little Sacred Heart Church in Minehead. There was a surprisingly large congregation for a seaside town on an ordinary Monday morning. A good and happy way to start a busy day...

Somerset all green and cool and gently rainwashed. Bright berries on the hedgerows. Cows sitting down with huh-it's-going-to-rain-so-what? expressions in wide damp fields. Sudden lovely vistas from the bus windows - that glorious view of Dunster Keep, or a surge of wonderfuil rounded hills...

Pottering about on domestic errands. It is over 30 years since I first came to this corner of England and met the family into which I was to marry...

Today's newspapers make me realise yet again what a loopy country Britain is at present. There are plans to abandon the statement on passports announcing the holder's sex - because some lobby group is claiming that some people don't know what sex they are, and are trying to change into being the opposite one.

...we celebrated the anniversary of the Holy Father's wonderful visit to Britain with a glorious Mass at Westminster Cathedral. It was a priviledge to be there...wonderful singing from that superb choir, and the huge congregation joining in the Credo, and the Pater Noster, and Newman's hymns, and a magnificent Te Deum at the end...

Saturday, September 17, 2011

...contacted me to ask if I would talk about the revival of the no-meat-on-Friday rule. Delighted. In the event it turned out that there were so many people 'phoning in to talk about the previous subject on the programme - corporal punishment in schools, for which a majority of parents have apparently come out in favour! - that the discussion about Fridays was postponed for almost an hour. But then when it did take place we had a full and lengthy discussion, and it was in fact the first time in a great while that I've been on a radio programme where I could actually answer questions properly and get things across. The usual things came up: "But how can it be a penance to be sitting down to a delicious salmon instead of, say, a meat pie?" etc.It was good to be able to explore the whole subject, and we tackled all sorts of things - the significance of Friday and Christ's death on the Cross, the value of traditions, what penance is all about, why obedience to the Church has value, and more.

For various reasons, I was doing the interview standing in our small garden - Jamie was sorting out various bits of Army equipment in one room, the washing machine was blaring in the kitchen, and the gardenn was the only quiet place. Felt odd to be standing there next to the apple tree, with a neighbour watching from a nearby fire-escape, talking on the radio about Bishops and Fridays and fish pie...

Friday, September 16, 2011

...a priest of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. There is plenty going on in the Ordinariate - see some of the latest news here. But I would so love to see - and surely so would lots of other people? - Ordinariate groups being given the use of some of the old and currently unused or under-used churches that are around Britain. Of course some may be in places that are of no use to Ordinariate groups. But others...

At present, Ordinariate groups simply use local Catholic churches. But these are already busy places, with lots of Sunday Masses, and so the Ordinariate group has usually been given a "slot" on a Saturday evening...this is probably all right as a short-term measure, but it really won't do as things develop.

It's in everyone's interest - I mean everyone's - that fine old buildings get used and cherished.It seems daft that some old C. of E. churches may end up as warehouses or simply left empty...when they could be used by Ordinariate groups...

This is simply Auntie's view - not neccesarily shared by any Ordinariate clergy, who are busy getting on with things. But let's get praying, and we can hope that some good things could develop as time moves on...

Thursday, September 15, 2011

...somehow has a sense of history that it lacks in other seasons. It is an Autumn/Winter city, not at its best in summer's searing heat. Today, a visit to an art exhibition in Kensington, then a chatty family lunch. Then a meeting with Patti Fordyce, a colleague from the Assn of Catholic Women.

The ACW has its Pilgrimage to Minster next week: SEptember 21st. Join us! Meet 7.45am at Westminster Cathedral. Bring a packed lunch.I've been working on the hymn-sheets and programme for the day (we'll be singing Faith of Our Fathers, and Praise to the Holiest....)

And do come to the ACW meeting on Sat Oct 24th, starts 2pm St James church centre, George St WI.We are celebrating the beatification of JP11. Speaker: Dr Philip Howard on "Blessed John Paul - a personal perspective on his influence on contemporary medical ethics and practices", followed by a film on the life of Bl JP11. All welcome. ACW meetings are friendly and welcoming and you will be meeting women who are active in the Church and enthusiastic about their faith...

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The Church has made a generous and loving call to the Lefebvrists today. We might expect that as a result several of them will decide submit to Rome. They will find that all the things they have been saying over the years about how crucial it was for them to break away and be the one lone real voice, etc etc etc, will dwindle away, and they'll discover that it is really rather good to be faithful Catholics. There will probably be an intransigent rump that won't submit, and this in turn may splinter into two or more different groups.

Meanwhile the Church's understanding of religious freedom will continue to flourish and the invitation to "the examination and theological explanation of individual expressions and formulations" of Vatican II's words on the subject (I'm quoting from the Vatican's statement today on the discussions with the Lefebvrists) may lead them to see its richness. There is a tired, cul-de-sac feel to the SSPX line on the subject, and a sort of recognition that there is a main road that might be worth seeking out and joining...

I went today to a Catholic bookshop to buy prizes for a schools' project,and enjoyed browsing...realised how swiftly things become part of Catholic life, Catholic tradition, and the liiving reality of the Church. A book Miracles of John Paul II took me back, somehow, to some of the things I remember from my childhood telling of the miracles at Lourdes, or of my young adult years when I first heard about the miracles associated with Padre Pio. It is poignant to think of people in years to come praying to John Paul and adding to the next generation of books about him...and for them things like World Youth Day that he initiated will just seem part of Church life - rather as we see Lourdes pilgrimages, or Padre Pio prayer-groups...

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The specific request I was making in the Novena has already been granted - quite swiftly and even dramatically, after just one day. Theological question: do I now complete the Novena in thanksgiving and gratitude, or continue with some other requests, or what?

...with headlines noting the anniversary of the ghastly terrorist attacks against the USA in September 2001. Mass, and a sense of parish life getting busy again after the summer break, with announcements about First Communion clsses and youth groups and so on. Autumn sunshine. The horse-chestnut trees all across England are turning brown - but not with healthy Autumnal glow, instead there is some horrid disease which is affecting them with rust and slowly killing them. Sad echoes of the disease that struck our lovely elm trees back in the 1970s. To lose the horse-chesnut trees with their gleaming conkers and their thick, reassurring spreading branches, is to lose something precious. Ruper Brooke wrote in his poem about Grantchester "Say, do the elm-clumps greatly stand, still guardians of that holy land?" and alas, they don't. Now it seems that the glorious chestnut trees won't either...

...at Maryvale for the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the present Brigettine Order. The Brigettine sisters at Maryvale are a wonderful team - they run the whole of the student accomodation and hospitality there, meals, cleaning, organising of the rooms etc - and, more importantly, are the spiritual heart of the whole place as the days begin with their prayers and the whole house is made pleasant by their kindness.

There was a beautiful Mass in the chapel by Bishop William Kenney, auxiliary in Birmingham, who was for some years a Bishop in Sweden - where of course the Brigettine Order has its roots and where he was frequently at their retreat house at Djursholm. The whole story of the Brigettines is of special interest to me as I am currently working on a biography of two of them, Mother Riccarda Hambrough and Mother Katherine Flanagan. The former was something of a heroine in Rome in World War II as she helped to hide Jewish refugees in the convent...and I have just over the past couple of days had the delight of making contact with some of her relations, who did not know about all this and are extremely interested...

It is always a joy to go to Maryvale: as a student there I feel so much at home as soon as I walk through the big gates and up the drive, past the statue of Our Lady and on to the pillared porch. The Brigettine celebration included a delicious buffet lunch laid out on a table laid with crisp white cloths caught up with scarlet ribbons, all in the lecture hall which usually features rows of desks and busy students. I stayed on in the library for a little while to tackle some emails - and will be back at Maryvale again in a short while for the start of a new term.

Friday, September 09, 2011

...on Wednesday, which was Auntie's birthday. First appointment with St Paul's bookshop, next to Westminster Cathedral, to look at the illustrations for my book on Blessed John Paul, due out in October, with illustrator Kati Teague, who brought celebration cakes! I was really touched and we all settled down to enjoy them along with the illustrations - which are charming, especially one of BlJP11 with children...

In the evening, supper with friends. A lovely welcome, gin-and-tonic, birthday gift (a book by Elizabeth vom Arnim), laughter and catching up on news... The daughter of the house had been at World Youth Day so we regaled the party with tales of scorching heat, queues for the loos, singing on trains, and ants in one's underwear...and going to confession in the park, the unforgettable prayer vigil with the Holy Father, the huge goodwill and joy everywhere, and the sense that, yes, the whole experience was quietly but significantly life-changing...

A delicious meal, with Summer Pudding (my favourite) and J. arrived with flowers and chocs and champagne...

Monday, September 05, 2011

"The Second Vatican Council, recognizing and making its own an essential principle of the modern State with the Decree on Religious Freedom, has recovered the deepest patrimony of the Church. By so doing she can be conscious of being in full harmony with the teaching of Jesus himself (cf. Mt 22: 21), as well as with the Church of the martyrs of all time.

"The ancient Church naturally prayed for the emperors and political leaders out of duty (cf. I Tm 2: 2); but while she prayed for the emperors, she refused to worship them and thereby clearly rejected the religion of the State.The martyrs of the early Church died for their faith in that God who was revealed in Jesus Christ, and for this very reason they also died for freedom of conscience and the freedom to profess one's own faith - a profession that no State can impose but which, instead, can only be claimed with God's grace in freedom of conscience."

...of what the British pilgrims at World Youth Day experienced, go here and click on to the links given. Listen to the testimonies of the young people, enjoy the songs and the dear voice of the Holy Father joyfully greeting everyone and sharing in the youthful joy...

Sunday, September 04, 2011

...instead of recognising the bad results of the close interlocking of Church and State as revealed in the shocking child-abuse cases, the Government has decided to waste time and energy by announcing grandiose nonsense that will achieve nothing whatever: trying to intervene in the sacramental life of the Church. This is pointless: we are dealing here with spiritual realities where Government legislation has no role at all. It is no use whatever announcing that Catholic priests must reveal to the police some sins mentioned to them in the sacrament of confession: they can't and they won't. Announcing prison terms for priests will make no difference to this.

Debate on BBC Radio 5 about this topic this evening:I was invited to take part but got very little chance to speak as much time was spent by the interviewer endlessly berating a Catholic priest and urging him to betray sacramental secrets.

The Irish government's announcement is just ludicrous: a classic example of attempts to deflect from the real issues at stake.

Saturday, September 03, 2011

...with days of sudden great heat. An afternoon spent with young relatives, the children splashing gleefuly with great squeaks of joy and delight in a big paddling pool in a local park.Picking blackberries on the way home and eating them for supper. Gathering apples and making apple-jelly - it's setting nicely in the kitchen as I write this. A big jar of apple sauce to be taken to some friends tomorrow. A garden-party with an elderly relative in a nearby residential home, the Bishop joining us for tea. An English summer drawing to its close with some reassuring notes in an often worrying world.

Thursday, September 01, 2011

...with members of the Association of Catholic Women and the Catholic History Walkers! On Wednesday September 21st we are going on pilgrimage to MINSTER, to visit the sisters at St Mildred's Abbey.

We meet at Westminster Cathedral at 7.45am. Bring a packed lunch. We'll be travelling by train. On arrival at Minster, there'll be coffee and a chance to enjoy the lovely grounds and gardens, and then we'll join the Sisters for the Office of Sext in the Abbey's chapel. This will be followed by Mass - we are bringing our own chaplain. Then a picnic lunch - or, if you like, you can explore the village and enjoy a pub lunch there. Then there will be a talk about the Abbey's history, with a DVD, and a sister will tell us about the Benedictine life...and then we will have tea and make our way home.

During the day we'll be saying the Rosary and we'll learn something of the history of this part of Kent, with its links to St Augustine etc. We plan to be back in London by 6pm.

Minster Abbey is a beautiful place with lovely grounds and a warm welcome - and good accomodation for pilgrims if the weather is rainy too.

No need to book - just turn up. But you will find it useful to BUY YOUR RAILWAY TICKET BEFOREHAND. We plan to catch the 08.33 train from CHARING CROSS.

I went to Minster today with the Chairman of the Assn of Catholic Women to make arrangements for this pilgrimage and it was a most lovely day...glorious Kent countryside, warm September sun, the peace of the convent chapel, the beauty of the abbey gardens with their flowers in great profusion...

...of those involved with St Clare Media, which is the British group associated with EWTN. It's so encouraging to see how EWTN has grown and how it is now a mainstream part of Catholic life and appreciated by so many families. And EWTN is now associated with this good Catholic newspaper too...

Tomorrow I am off to Minster-in-Thanet where there is a beautiful convent which dates back to Saxon times. There's a gently Autumnal feel to the air as Septermber arrives...read more about Auntie and LOndon and so on here...